Photos: The 10 most extravagant weddings ever

AFP, Vancouver Sun05.01.2012

The wedding of movie star Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier of Monaco was called "The Wedding of the Century." It began with a 12-carat diamond Cartier engagement ring that Kelly matched with a now-iconic wedding gown. The included 25 yards of taffeta, 100 yards of silk net and thousands of pearls; it took 36 seamstresses six weeks to make. The couple's religious ceremony took place on April 19, 1956 at Saint Nicholas Cathedral before of 600 guests — including Cary Grant, Aristotle Onassis and Ava Gardner — and an estimated 30 million television viewers. After the wedding the couple drove through the streets of Monte Carlo in a cream and black Rolls Royce. Then 700 guests joined the prince and the new princess for a luncheon reception at the palace's, where the couple cut a six-tier wedding cake with the prince’s sword.

AFP
/ Vancouver Sun

In March 2002, Liza Minnelli wed music promoter David Gest at the Regent Hotel in New York before 850 guests. The couple separated after 16 months.Kevin Winter
/ Getty Images

When businessman Amit Bhatia married Vanisha Mittal in 2004, the 1,000 guests each received a 20-page silver invitation. They stayed in 5-star hotels and watched fireworks over the Eiffel Tower. The wine alone was estimated to cost more than $1.5 million. Estimates for the total cost range from $60 million to $78 million.CARL DE SOUZA
/ AFP/Getty Images

Hollywood star Tom Cruise married actress Katie Holmes in in November 2006 at a three-day Italian wing-ding, topped off by a candlelit ceremony in a medieval castle. After a fireworks display, the Hollywood guests moved to a another castle to party the night away.Handout
/ Getty Images

In 2010, Chelsea Clinton married Manhattan hedge-fund manager Marc Mezvinsky. The event took place on July 31 in the small village of Rhinebeck, N.Y., at the 50-acre Astor Courts estate. The gala’s reported cost: $2 million.Genevieve de Manio

In August 2010, reality star Kim Kardashian wed NBA player Kris Humphries in an elaborate bash that reportedly cost $10 million. E! bought the rights to record the ceremony, making the evening into a four-hour TV special. Kardashian wore a 20.5-caret wedding ring valued at $2 million. The event took place at a California coastal estate. The couple split 72 days later.Pascal Le Segretain
/ Getty Images

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